When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Read More

Related Articles

Read More

Related Articles

Councillor Jim O'Boyle, who represents the ward of St Michael's said: “It is true that child poverty in St Michael’s is too high and is unfortunately an indictment on government policy over the last ten years. However, research by the Resolution Foundation think tank finds tax credits introduced by Labour reduced the number of children in poverty from three million to 1.6 million (from 1998-2010)

“The previous Labour government also legislated for the minimum wage and brought in Sure Start Children’s Centres. Locally in St Michael’s we have helped by fully supporting our children’s centres whilst we have schools performing in the most difficult conditions with Sidney Stringer Academy classed as Outstanding by OFSTED. Coventry have traditionally spent more than the national average on our schools because we recognise the importance of a good education.

“However, in recent years, we have seen local authority budgets slashed by 50% leaving little room for local initiatives which can directly tackle some of the structural issues seen in society. However, it is important to continue to support local families by supporting economic investment locally thereby increasing job opportunities which local people can take advantage of. We have also supported families to reduce energy bills, increased school places and helped support small businesses employing local people.

“What we need is a Labour government to tackle the serious societal problem of poverty and that means direct government action including increasing the minimum wage, reopen and fund Sure Start and adequately fund our schools”.

The proportions are estimates based on DWP figures on the number of children living in families with a household income of less than 60% of the UK average as of March 2019, and population estimates from the Office for National as of mid-2018.

As such, they can only offer an approximation of the proportion of children living in poverty - but the DWP have confirmed that they do give a broad indication of local areas with a very high or very low proportion.

A Coventry City Council spokesperson said: “In Coventry, we recognise that no one agency can tackle the issue of child poverty alone.

“The Council’s Marmot Group alongside various agencies from the community and voluntary sector have been involved in a range of projects to tackle this with a priority to ensure that 0-5 year old’s get the best start in life and have a solid foundation for the future. Out in the community, our eight Family Hubs play a vital role in supporting families across the city, where children, young people and their families can go to access help and advice.

“Work also includes partnering with the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) on a ‘Cost of the School Day’ project, to support whole-school communities to address financial barriers to education.

“Support for those in greater need to access employment through the Job Shop helps tackle child poverty more widely, and in the last seven years since it opened, 6.6% more Coventry residents are now in work.”

Coronavirus impact

Charities have also warned that child poverty is only going to get worse because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Judith Cavanagh, coordinator of the End Child Poverty coalition, said: “These figures from Government show the extent to which we have been failing children in poverty even before the outbreak of coronavirus.

“We have not all entered this crisis equally. Children in poverty will be among the worst affected by the crisis as households see their income hit further, through loss of employment and the increased costs of staying home – such as food, fuel bills and supporting home schooling.

“Policies such as the two-child limit on children’s benefits and the benefit cap have made a significant contribution to the rise in child poverty over the past five years.

“As more families now have to turn to the benefits system as a result of coronavirus we are urging the Government to scrap those policies, which they argued acted as incentives to get people into work.

“We would also like the Government to introduce an immediate increase to child benefit of £10 per child as a fast and effective means of getting support to low income families.

“Children in low income families have been failed over the past 5 years. Our response to Covid-19 must not fail them again.”